Dealing with publicists is a big part of my job. Most publicists understand there’s a symbiotic relationship between themselves and writers. (With editors, too, for that matter.)
But every so often you encounter a publicist with a superiority complex.
Close encounters with unpleasant publicists
Years ago a publicist set up an interview with one of her clients. Following the interview I asked who some of her other clients were in case any assignments came up that might be a good fit. She read off a lengthy list, only one other performer whose name I recognized. I asked if she could email me a list, which apparently offended her. “We don’t do that. Our clients are too big for that!”
No wonder I’d only heard of two of her clients before. Including the guy I’d just interviewed.
Another time, a publicist complained about a profile I’d written about one of her clients—two months after it was published. After hours on a Friday, she started emailing me, demanding that I retract something she claimed her client never said. I calmly explained that her client had indeed said what was paraphrased, and if she wanted the online version of the article changed, she needed to speak with the editor. I also pasted in the direct quote so she would see that I actually did her client a favor by not including her exact words. The publicist continued to bombard me with email all weekend, but I was off the clock, so I didn’t reply. First thing Monday, I emailed my editor to alert her to the problem. My editor said, “Don’t worry. She was emailing all of us all weekend, too. I’ll handle her. She’s a bit of diva.”
And last week a publicist I’d proactively contacted—not on the behalf of any clients, only to get leads on pieces to pitch—got snippy with me because I hadn’t noticed she’d copied two more people in on our exchange, and because I forgot to provide my phone number. She said without “reply all” and a phone number “it would be beyond difficult to work with you.”
Oh, honey. I wasn’t the one being difficult.
The publicist made oversights, too
When she asked what markets I wrote for, I chose not to embarrass her by pointing out that I’d mentioned that in my first message.
When she replied to me as “PK” (which is unfortunately how my email displays my name) even though I’d signed my name as “Paula” I didn’t point out her oversight, I simply signed the second email “Paula” as well because it was a minor oversight.
When she ignored basic email etiquette by not announcing that she was looping in more people, she put the onus on me to notice it. But I didn’t. We’re both at fault on that.
I probably shouldn’t have done it, but since I wasn’t representing any of my clients, I bit back: “Actually I’m quite easy to work with—sorry you’re too shortsighted to get past a couple of tiny oversights on my part to discover that for yourself. By the way, you missed something, too. My name.”
That time I replied all.
The upshot
Thank goodness, the truth is that smug, self-important publicists are few and far between.
The vast majority of publicists I deal with are friendly, helpful, and understand how we can help each other simply by cooperating. Publicists provide article ideas, resources, data, and access to interview sources. Writers—and editors—help them get exposure for their clients, brands, or programs.
One important thing I think some of those rude publicists fail to consider? Due to their off-putting behaviors and attitudes, the next time that editor or writer has to choose between including one of their clients in an article or another publicist’s client, they’ll probably choose the other publicist’s client.
Ah Paula, you remind me of when I was an editor of a local free weekly. We cherished the right kind of pr person and easy to read releases. The others we ignored, or, in many cases a previous editor had learned to ignore.
I don’t understand how they can, occasionally, get so snippy with writers and editors and survive… only one of my many questions about love, life, the universe and everything.
Seriously! I wonder how some of the more obnoxious publicists manage to retain their clients – all of whom are tarnished by association with such ill-tempered and demanding spokespersons.
Paula, I think given the fact you won’t contact her again, that was the right response. I might have copied her boss on it, actually.
It wasn’t a publicist, but a PR person I’d contacted for a piece on the insurance market in her state got rather rude with me. I’d sent the questions ahead — the usual ones a reporter would ask, such as “Are there any trends you’re seeing or anything that may affect coverage or rates?”
Her answer: “You know, we’re not going to do your research for you.”
Huh?
That’s right– she assumed the questions were ALL I was going to do to put that article together. And she must have assumed her expert was the only one being asked.
I’ve been writing full time since 2000. This was a first.
Unfortunately, this publicist was the head of that particular company.
You raise an interesting question, though: Are publicists and public relations reps interchangeable terms? I might have to ask some of my (good) PR pals. Of course, public relations implies ensuring the correct information is presented to the public (and the press), and publicist brings to mind someone trying to build a client’s image. What’s your take, Lori?
Having worked closely with actors for many years, I understand how important a buffer a good Publicist can be between the client and the public. They understand the game, know how to play it to make their clients look good (often beyond how the clients really are), and are polite, funny, and energetic. The nightmares are the ones that want the client to depend on them for everything, and try to isolate the client and “defend” the client from the public, instead of being a bridge. The former are great — the latter have serious psychological issues that hurt the actor, the business, and the result.
Excellent points, Devon. I also understand that publicists are gatekeepers – and I’m sure they get quite a few fans posing as journalists to get access to celebrities. But when someone you’re already bombarding with press releases replies to one asking for more info, it’s usually not good form to bite her head off, LOL. As I said earlier, thank goodness this type of experience is a rarity for me.